(ST. GEORGE, Utah) – Patricia R. Peterson passed away on Sunday, June 8th, 2014 in St. George, Utah at the age of 79. She was born April 2nd, 1935 in Minot, North Dakota to Kenneth and Muriel McLane.

Pat attended elementary and high schools in Minot and was active in the Girls Scouts. She received her Bachelor’s degree with a major in Music Education from Minot State University. Pat later received her Master’s degree in Special Education from Montana State University-Billings.

She married Donald Peterson in 1957. She taught music in public schools and lived in Mohall, North Dakota, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Billings, Montana and Everett, Washington. She loved her job bringing the joy of music to kids with special needs. Pat and Don retired to winter in Mesa, Arizona and later in St. George, Utah while continuing to enjoy summers at the cabin in Montana.

Pat and Don danced with the Scandinavian Dancers from Red Lodge, Montana and she led the children’s dancers in the annual Festival of Nations. Pat was active in the Lutheran Church, she began directing children’s choirs when she was just a teenager and also sang in choirs as long as her health permitted.

Pat and Don raised two sons, Lynn (Pete) now living in Spokane, Washington and Byron (Barney) living in Kasugai, Japan. Both are married; Pete to Mary Arnone and Byron to Kazumi Yoshimura. Pete and Mary have two grown sons and Byron and Kazumi have a daughter now in the sixth grade.

Pat loved the outdoors, camping in the north woods of Wisconsin when the boys were younger, and later hiking and skiing (Pat served on the ski patrol for several years) in the Beartooth Mountains near the family cabin outside Red Lodge, Montana. Her love of travel stemmed from her childhood summers, when she crisscrossed the country by railway with her mother. After raising the boys, she and Don made numerous trips throughout Europe and later Asia.

Preceding her in death are her parents and her brother Harry. Pat is survived by her husband, Don, their two sons Pete (Mary) and Byron (Kazumi): two grandsons, Joshua and Daniel; granddaughter, Ayumi, Pat’s sister-in-law, Jean McLane from Mesa, Arizona, a nephew, Norman (Kathy) McLane and a niece, Shannon (Gary) Brown.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., at the New Promise Lutheran Church, 244 South Valley View Dr., St. George, Utah. Lunch will be served at the church following the services. In lieu of flowers, please donate to New Promise Lutheran Church or to Messiah Lutheran Church, PO Box 1330, Red Lodge, Montana 59068 or to a charity of your choice.

(ST. GEORGE, Utah) – Patricia R. Peterson passed away on Sunday, June 8th, 2014 in St. George, Utah at the age of 79. She was born April 2nd, 1935 in Minot, North Dakota to Kenneth and Muriel McLane.

Pat attended elementary and high schools in Minot and was active in the Girls Scouts. She received her Bachelor’s degree with a major in Music Education from Minot State University. Pat later received her Master’s degree in Special Education from Montana State University-Billings.

She married Donald Peterson in 1957. She taught music in public schools and lived in Mohall, North Dakota, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Billings, Montana and Everett, Washington. She loved her job bringing the joy of music to kids with special needs. Pat and Don retired to winter in Mesa, Arizona and later in St. George, Utah while continuing to enjoy summers at the cabin in Montana.

Pat and Don danced with the Scandinavian Dancers from Red Lodge, Montana and she led the children’s dancers in the annual Festival of Nations. Pat was active in the Lutheran Church, she began directing children’s choirs when she was just a teenager and also sang in choirs as long as her health permitted.

Pat and Don raised two sons, Lynn (Pete) now living in Spokane, Washington and Byron (Barney) living in Kasugai, Japan. Both are married; Pete to Mary Arnone and Byron to Kazumi Yoshimura. Pete and Mary have two grown sons and Byron and Kazumi have a daughter now in the sixth grade.

Pat loved the outdoors, camping in the north woods of Wisconsin when the boys were younger, and later hiking and skiing (Pat served on the ski patrol for several years) in the Beartooth Mountains near the family cabin outside Red Lodge, Montana. Her love of travel stemmed from her childhood summers, when she crisscrossed the country by railway with her mother. After raising the boys, she and Don made numerous trips throughout Europe and later Asia.

Preceding her in death are her parents and her brother Harry. Pat is survived by her husband, Don, their two sons Pete (Mary) and Byron (Kazumi): two grandsons, Joshua and Daniel; granddaughter, Ayumi, Pat’s sister-in-law, Jean McLane from Mesa, Arizona, a nephew, Norman (Kathy) McLane and a niece, Shannon (Gary) Brown.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., at the New Promise Lutheran Church, 244 South Valley View Dr., St. George, Utah. Lunch will be served at the church following the services. In lieu of flowers, please donate to New Promise Lutheran Church or to Messiah Lutheran Church, PO Box 1330, Red Lodge, Montana 59068 or to a charity of your choice.